There are aspects of our lives that need to die. These may include our pride, fears, anxieties, and our tendency to compare ourselves with others. We often become dissatisfied with not being and having enough, struggle with addictions, and grapple with our sinful ways. This, my friends, is the continuous invitation of Lent. It is through dying to ourselves and letting go of our angst and sins that we can achieve true peace within ourselves and with God.
On this Fourth Sunday of Lent, we reflect on the Gospel passage about the Raising of Lazarus. We learn that Jesus is deeply affected by His friend’s illness, yet He offers comforting words: “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
I shared these thoughts and the sentiment of Jesus in my homily last Sunday. I emphasized that our misfortunes, such as physical disabilities, can serve as avenues to reveal God’s works in our lives. Through virtues like courage, persistence, faith, and patience in dealing with our limitations, we can manifest the power of God, enabling us to live fully, achieve our goals, and meet the demands of life. Our strength amidst struggles, illness, and pain can serve as bold proclamations of our faith in God and Jesus Christ’s promise of new life in this world and the next.
Therefore, our fears and anxieties must die so that we can reveal God’s glory. We must remind one another of this profound truth. In these times when many people feel anxious about the troubled state of the world, we must encourage each other to remain strong and hopeful. Our fears must be transformed into courage as we continue to preach and live the Gospel values of love, mercy, compassion, kindness, justice, and the common good.
I also shared what I learned from our parish retreat last Saturday: “Love is the cure; the wound is the teacher.” Indeed, our wounds teach us to be compassionate to ourselves and others, to recognize our resilience, and to overcome challenges. They remind us not to stop fighting for and building a just and peaceful world.
Jesus desires to unwrap the bandages of our emotional and spiritual wounds to reveal His healing power in us, who believe in Him and trust in His power and abiding presence in our lives. As we approach Holy Week and Easter, let us emerge from the darkness of our anxieties and fears and believe in the power of the Risen Lord!
Your loving pastor,
Fr. Rodel Balagtas
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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California